In this issue:
Important Leadership Dates
A Message from the Chief Executive Officer
Register Now for Leadership Summit
SLA Scholarship Interviews
Call for Papers
Recruit-A-Member Campaign
8 December 2006 |
Call for Papers - Brief Proposal Due for Papers to be Presented at the 2007 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, USA |
22 December 2006 |
Documents Deadline for January Board and Cabinet Meetings |
15 January 2007 |
SLA 2006 Scholarship Evaluation Form Due |
15 January 2007 |
List of Individuals Paid Over $600 in 2006 Due to SLA Headquarters |
24-27 January 2007 |
Leadership Summit, Reno, NV, USA |
A Message from the Chief Executive Officer - Engaging Unit Leaders
As we approach the end of another year, many units have already transitioned to the new association governance year and you are thinking about new objectives and how to accomplish them through engaging volunteers, SLA's most valuable resource.
After you've developed an inventory of all the work that is done or needs to be done, consider the various components of structure. While a committee is one of the most common structures in SLA, consider others: a work group or project team, a solo assignment, an advisory board or a task force.
When asking someone to serve, consider more than just their interest. What is optimal is to engage volunteers in those efforts for which they have either a passion or a talent. Some may not yet have developed the skills or talents but have a sincere interest in developing them. That is fine; SLA is a place to develop those skills - a kind of professional development. It's a safe environment to try new skills with the support of fellow members. Then ensure that you divulge the time commitment and that there is a match.
Time is one of the most significant contributions a volunteer offers. Develop focused agendas for meetings or conference calls, realistic turnaround deadlines on projects, and be considerate of other areas where volunteer time can be leveraged or wasted.
Doing the work of SLA and its units may be serious business; the way we go about it doesn't have to be dry and boring, though. Engage minds and also hearts. Making volunteer experiences memorable will keep everyone coming back for more. One of the simplest ways to do this is to include some elements of fun and play whenever possible into the volunteer experience. For instance, when training new officers, reviewing the unit guidelines could be bland; consider taking those facts and procedures and turning them into a highly charged game show with small prizes. Dull committee meetings can be enlivened with short, energizing teambuilding exercises. Is there a "fun" committee on the horizon to interject a bit of fun into every aspect of your unit experience?
The biggest "paycheck" that you can give a volunteer leader is recognition and thanks for their contributions. Remember to say "thank you" along the way and also at the close of the year. Then, as existing leaders transition out of current positions, don't forget to ask what they'd like to do next. Once in a leadership role, members usually feel a closer connection to their unit and SLA, a part of the SLA family. They generally don't want to be left out of the "inner circle" and may be encouraged to take on a larger responsibility and continue their growth and contribution to SLA.
--Janice R. Lachance, Chief Executive Officer
Register Now for Leadership Summit 2007 
Each day of the training portion of the 2007 Leadership Summit will feature a keynote speaker. And, if you are among the first 100 registrants, you will receive a complimentary copy of Chip Heath's new book, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. SLA's own Ken Haycock will keynote the second day.
Registration is now available for the 2007 Leadership Summit to be held in Reno, NV, USA, 24-27 January 2007.This unique leadership development program offers you a one-stop opportunity to develop leadership skills in your career and also specific to volunteerism in SLA. Seize this chance to step back from your day-to-day routine and engage in group learning and skill-building exercises guaranteed to push your thinking and advance your leadership and management skills. At the same time you'll have fun and build lasting relationships with other information professionals. Make a difference in your career and SLA. Join us in Reno as we build a strong future.
SLA Scholarship Interviews
Thank you to all of the leaders involved in the 2006 SLA Scholarship Program. Chapter Presidents who were assigned interviews received an email on 16 November 2006 from Tenikka Greene, SLA Membership Associate. If you have been assigned an interview, please submit your evaluation forms to SLA no later than 15 January 2007. If you have questions please contact Tenikka Greene in the SLA Membership Department at +1.703.647.4936.
Opportunity to share your knowledge! Submit to the SLA Call for Papers
Have you implemented a solution in your workplace from which you think other colleagues could benefit? Have you given thought to an everyday issue facing information professionals? Have you started an information center from scratch and learned valuable lessons along the way? If so, we'd love to hear about it! Every SLA member is eligible and encouraged to submit a proposal for a contributed paper and presentation at the 2007 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, USA. Past paper topics have included: online collaboration between libraries, perfecting communication skills, implementing digitization projects, and browsing in the special library. Brief abstracts are due 8 December 2006. If your proposal is among the 12-15 chosen, your paper will be due in May 2007. Learn more about submitting a proposal!
Recruit-a-Member Campaign
Recruit-a-Member Campaign is breaking records in 2006! So far, 103 embers recruited 118 new members. With the entire month of December to go, this annual campaign could be the best campaign in SLA's recent history. Terrific prizes await you and your chapter or division for the most members recruited. See if your name or someone from your chapter or division is a candidate for the 2006 President's Club. Questions? Contact SLA Membership Director Jill Calabria at +1.703.647.4926.
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